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US SECRET MISSIONS
A
VIATION
ION
NEWS
UK £4.40
February 2015
www.aviation-news.co.uk
A330 EVOLVES
Building on Success
SENSATIONAL
STORM BIRD
Messerschmitt 262
TALES FROM THE LOGBOOK
A
VIATION
ION
THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF FLIGHT
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BERLIN AIR
CORRIDORS
FLYING AROUND THE
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BRITISH
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ROOM WITH A VIEW
HEATHROW A380 GUIDE
Full Flight Ops Listing
CHICAGO O’HARE
AIRPORT HOTEL
In the Heart of the Action
RUSSIAN AF
BEARS
Nightmares of NATO
NEWS
The busiest, biggest
and best...
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Great Airports of the World
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busiest, largest and most impressive
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including the world’s largest at Dubai
World Central, and several of the massive
new terminals now under construction.
Features include:
Heathrow Gets its Mojo Back
London Heathrow has been the world’s
busiest international airport for decades,
but was su ering under the strain of rising
demand. Bruce Hales-Dutton reveals, there’s
more to come.
Sydney Airport: Australia’s Gateway
Nestled on the banks of Botany Bay, Sydney
Kingsford Smith Airport is Australia’s most
important piece of aviation infrastructure.
Chris Frame examines its history and how
physical and environmental issues mean a
second airport is to be built during the next
ten years to supplement it.
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Dubai International
After a decade of record growth, Dubai
International Airport continues to register
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CONTENTS
FEATURES
20
Heathrow A380 Guide
Heathrow is one of the best airports in the world to
see the Airbus A380.
Aviation News
details all you
need to know about A380 operations at the airport.
p
64
p
04
REGULARS
04
Headlines
06
Military News
10
Civil News
13
Models
Roundup
16
Preservation News
32
Flight Bag
40
Room with a View
48
Aviation Archaeology
63
Air Mail
68
Register Review
72
Airport Movements
75
Air Base Movements
24
Engels Bears – Nightmares of NATO
As tensions rise with NATO, Tupolev Tu-95
Bears
from Engels Air Base are conducting more missions
outside Russia’s borders as Babak Taghvaee reports.
p
50
34
Messerschmitt’s Ground-Breaking
Storm Bird
Chris Goss details the troubled development and
combat service of the world’s rst operational jet
ghter – the Messerschmitt 262.
42
Airbus A330 – Long Haul to Success
After a slow start, the Airbus A330 has developed
into a successful and versatile long-haul aircraft.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren charts its development.
p
58
50
Berlin Air Corridors - US Recce
Missions
Dr Kevin Wright and Peter Jefferies study US Cold
War intelligence operations from the Berlin Air
Corridors.
58
British Midland’s Viscounts
British Midland enjoyed a pro table relationship
with the Vickers Viscount spanning 21 years. Bob
O’Brien recounts the story.
p
77
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64
MiG Fury Fighters: Dogfight Thrills
Luigino Caliaro spoke with owner Dr Richard Sugden
to nd out more about the unique MiG Fury Fighters
display team.
77
TALES FROM THE LOGBOOK...
Far Eastern Odyssey
Nik French describes a trip he and his son, Ashley, took
to the Far East that included nine ights in ten days.
Main image:
A Cathay Paci c Airbus A330 departs from Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok.
AirTeamImages.com/Edwin Chai. Inset (bottom left).
A Qantas Airbus A380 takes off from
London Heathrow.
Simon Boddy. Inset (bottom right):
A Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-95
Bear.
Chris Lofting
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www.aviation-news.co.uk
3
HEADLINES
Airbus Delivers First A350
Handover of the world’s rst Airbus A350
XWB (Xtra Widebody) took place in
December when Qatar Airways received
A350-941 A7-ALA (msn 006, ex F-WZFA) at
a high-pro le ceremony at the manufacturer’s
Toulouse headquarters. The aircraft ew to
Doha from France on December 22, following
the Toulouse ceremony attended by Qatar
Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al
Baker, senior Airbus and Rolls-Royce officials,
and more than 150 international media.
Al Baker said: “Receiving the A350 XWB as
global launch customer is a very proud moment
for Qatar Airways, and after much anticipation,
I am delighted that the day has come when we
will welcome this latest generation aircraft into
our rapidly expanding eet.
“The A350 XWB, in combination with
the recently-introduced A380, will offer
unprecedented levels of interoperability and
a highly efficient solution to meet long-haul
passenger demand on the rapidly expanding
Qatar Airways received the rst Airbus A350
XWB in December.
Airbus S.A.S. 2014 photo
by master films/A DOUMENJOU
Qatar Airways’ network.”
Qatar Airways was expected to launch
the A350 on its Doha-Frankfurt service
on January 15. The arrival of the A350 in
Doha makes Qatar Airways the rst airline to
operate every family of Airbus’ modern airliner
portfolio, comprising the A320, A330, A340,
A350 and A380.
Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO
said at the handover ceremony: “Handing over
the rst A350 XWB represents a signi cant
step in Airbus and aviation history. The
A350 XWB is the latest Airbus aircraft to join
the skies, revolutionising our industry and
rede ning the way people y.” He added: “It is
with tremendous pride that we are delivering
our rst A350 XWB today to our launch
customer, Qatar Airways. It’s a perfect match,
to be handing over the rst of an all-new,
world class aircraft to a leading, world class
airline.”
Qatar Airways’ A350 XWB is powered by
two new-generation Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
engines. The Business Class cabin has 36
seats in a 1-2-1 con guration featuring an
80in (203cm) full at bed and 17in (43cm) HD
in- ight entertainment screen and a spacious
in- ight bar. The Economy Class features
247 18in (45cm) wide seats in a 3-3-3
con guration, each with a 10.6in (26cm) in-
ight entertainment screen, and more space
at shoulder level for passengers in window
seats, thanks to the side wall panel design.
The jet also offers advanced air
conditioning technology and LED mood
lighting to enhance the comfort of passengers
while reducing fatigue after a long ight. In
addition, the jet will also offer in- ight Wi-Fi
connectivity for all passengers allowing them
to surf the web on the go.
Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus development
aircraft made its maiden ight on December
28, six months later than rst planned.
The aircraft, N461FT (c/n 41273), took
off from Paine Field, Everett, Washington at
09:29 landing 3hrs 32mins later at Boeing
Field, Washington. Previously scheduled to
y last June, the maiden ight was delayed,
partially due to problems that emerged with
the aircraft’s wiring bundles. Boeing reported
that 5-10% of wiring for redundant (back-up)
systems did not meet the separation distance
required by USAF regulations.
This rst prototype is a basic Boeing 767-
2C commercial freighter, which incorporates
the fuselage of the 767-200ER, wings of
the 767-300, stabilisers and ight deck of
the 767-400ER, and cockpit displays of the
787 Dreamliner. Addition of the y-by-wire
refuelling boom, military avionics and self-
protection systems, plus a remote aerial
refuelling operator station, will later bring the
4
Maiden Flight in KC-46A Programme
Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus development aircraft N461FT takes off for the rst time.
Boeing
aircraft up to full KC-46A con guration.
The Boeing test programme will use
four aircraft. The second airframe is to be
completed to full KC-46A tanker standard and
expected to y in April. The third is another
basic 767-2C, while the fourth will be the
second KC-46A. Once FAA Supplemental
Type Certi cation has been achieved for the
767-2C, the two basic aircraft will be modi ed
to KC-46A standard to join the USAF ight
test programme.
Following the rst four development
airframes, the USAF plans to purchase a
further 175 KC-46As, all for delivery by 2028.
First production delivery to the USAF is planned
for early 2016, with the contract specifying that
18 combat-ready aircraft are to be in service by
the end of August the following year.
Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft February 2015
Mildenhall to Close and Lakenheath Set for F-35s
RAF Mildenhall will close as part of a
major restructuring of US operations within
Europe, the Pentagon has announced.
The decision, which also includes the
end of US operations at RAF Alconbury
and RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire,
was revealed by the US Department of
Defense (DoD) on January 7, following
its European Infrastructure Consolidation
(EIC) review.
Mildenhall is home to the 100th Air
Refueling Wing (ARW) and 352nd Special
Operations Group (SOG) whose assets will
move to Germany along with 3,200 military
personnel.
Aviation News
contacted Mildenhall and
was told the CV-22s and MC-130Js of the
352nd SOG will relocate to Spangdahlem
AB “within the next five to seven years…”
When asked about when the KC-135s
of the 100th ARW will move to Ramstein
AB and the formal closing date of the
base, Mildenhall’s response was: “An exact
timeline is still being considered, factoring
construction efforts and personnel moves.
However, USAFE will continue to engage
with the UK Government to determine
how best to conduct the realignment. The
divestiture of US military at RAF Mildenhall
is not scheduled to happen for five to seven
years.”
The rotational detachments of RC-
135 Rivet Joints which operate from
Mildenhall will move to “a UK location that
is undetermined at this time”
.
It was also announced that two
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
squadrons, totalling 48 aircraft, will be
stationed at nearby RAF Lakenheath,
Suffolk, from 2020.
The results of the EIC review were
announced by Derek Chollet, Assistant
Secretary of Defense for International
Security Affairs, and John Conger,
performing the duties of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Energy,
Installations and Environment. “We used
a process very similar to the proven US
BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure]
The USAF has announced it is to leave RAF Mildenhall as part of a restructuring of its
operations within Europe. The KC-135s of the 100th ARW (as pictured) are to relocate to
Ramstein AB with the 352nd SOG moving to Spangdahlem AB, both in Germany.
Tim Felce
process in analysing the bases in Europe,”
explained Conger. “We looked at capacity,
at requirements, at military value, at cost
and at the diplomatic dynamics involved
with each action. And we found that
we were able to consolidate the same
capability on fewer locations.”
The US intelligence and support
elements at RAF Alconbury and RAF
Molesworth will be transferred to RAF
Croughton, Northamptonshire, which will be
expanded to take on the extra workload.
Welcoming the US decision to station its
first two European-based F-35 squadrons
at Lakenheath, UK Secretary of State
for Defence, Michael Fallon said: “I am
delighted that the Royal Air Force, Royal
Navy and US Air Force will be operating
this superb aircraft alongside one another
from bases in the UK. Of course, the US
decision to drawdown its presence at RAF
Mildenhall is disappointing. However,
we recognise that such changes are
sometimes necessary.”
Gen Frank Gorenc, USAFE and Air
Forces Africa commander, said: “These
infrastructure consolidations will allow
USAFE-AFAFRICA to better meet alliance
mission requirements.”
He added: “The UK remains an essential
location for forward-based and ready
forces. Our close relationship with the
UK Government and integrated missions
with UK forces remain integral to USAFE’s
ability to execute successful missions in
support of our NATO Allies.”
The Pentagon estimates these
closures, coupled with the consolidation of
operations across a number of minor US
military installations throughout Europe, will
save about $500m per year. The DoD has
stated that the closure of Mildenhall alone
will produce an annual saving of $125m.
While the divestitures in Europe do not
need Congressional approval, the $1.4bn it
is projected to cost to make all the changes
will have to be given the green light by
Congress.
The Luftwaffe has taken delivery of its first
Airbus A400M. The aircraft, 54+01 (c/n
0018), was flown from the factory at Seville
San Pablo Airport, Spain to its new home
at Wunstorf on December 19 where it joins
Lufttransportgeschwader 62 (LTG62 – Air
Transport Wing 62). The Luftwaffe has 53
A400Ms on order which will replace the
ageing C-160D Transalls.
Bundeswehr
www.aviation-news.co.uk
5
Luftwaffe
Receives
A400M

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